Collapsible cover



Aug. 1, 1967 L. B. MERTZ 3,333,759

COLLAPSIBLE COVER Filed April 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR L owls 5. Me/ fz 1, 1967 L. B. MERTZ 3,333,759

COLLAPSIBLE COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1966 INVENTOR Lou/Ls 5. Mervz United States Patent 3,333,759 COLLAPSIBLE COVER Louis B. Mertz, 7906 W. 86th St. Terrace, Overland Park, Kans. 66212 Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 545,029 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-21) This invention relates to a decorator item and has as its primary object the provision of a unit for covering the unsightly tree stand normally used to support a Christmas tree. When Christmas trees are mounted in conventional stands, there is often an attempt to camouflage the stand by covering the same with wrapped packages or a cloth, but the present invention contemplates the provision of sturdy and attractive enclosure unit for completely and effectively covering the stand.

It is a very important object of the present invention to provide a cover as above described which is constructed from relatively flat components to facilitate packaging and mailing of the unit. The components are suitably stamped and formed for ready assembly and subsequent collapsing when the tree is removed from the stand.

An important object of the instant invention is to provide a cover of the aforementioned character wherein novel construction is utilized to form an inexpensive cover fabricated of cardboard or the like. Also, there is no necessity for glue or other secondary holding means whereby the cover may be repeatedly broken down for storage and reassembled for use at each Christmas season without damage to the structural components of the unit.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational View, parts thereof being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective View of the cover, parts thereof being removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary, perspective views showing the operation of connecting the side panels of the cover;

FIG. {7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of the cover;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, base of the cover;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10 10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the cover;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the base thereof; and

FIG. 13 is a reduced, fragmentary, side elevational view of a side panel thereof.

The cover of the present invention, broadly designated by the reference numeral 20, is adapted to enclose a tree stand 22 Which supports a Christmas tree 24 having a trunk 26. With particular reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 12, cover includes an annular base 28 having a peripheral edge portion 30, base 28 being formed in semicircular half sections 32 having abutting ends 34. A pair of closely spaced, parallel, upstanding strips 36 and 38 are secured to each portion 30 of each section 32 and are coextensive therewith whereby to define an annular groove 40 therebetween.

The ends of inner strips 38 are spaced a short distance from corresponding section ends 34 as is clear from FIG. 9. Each end 34 of sections 32 is provided with a transverse gusset 42, ,the lower edge 44 of which is secured to base 28. The outer edge 46 of gusset 42 is secured to outer strip 36, and the proximal side face 48 of the gusset is enlarged, plan view of the secured to inner strip 38. Thus, gussets 42 of corresponding semicircular sections 32 are disposed in side-by-side relationship at the abutting ends 34 as clearly shown in FIG. 12.

Cover 20 has a circular planar top 50 divided into semicircular half sections 52 having abutting straight edges 54. A peripheral edge portion 56 is presented by top 50, and a pair of closely spaced, parallel strips 58 and 60 depend from each portion 56 to form an annular groove 62 therebetween. In the same manner as inner base strips 38, the ends of inner stop strips 60 are spaced. from corresponding abutting edges 54 to provide clearance for the mounting of gussets 64. Gussets 64 of each half section 52 are thus disposed in side-by-side relationship in the same manner as gussets 42.

Outer strip 58 of top 50 has an integral extension 66 projecting upwardly therefrom and cooperating with a band 68 to present a rim 70 on top 50. Top 50 is provided with a plurality of perforation circles 72 corresponding to varying diameters of tree trunks.

A pair of elongated side panels 74 are formed into semicylindrical members and interlocked at the opposed ends thereof to present a continuous outer wall 76 defining a stand-receiving cavity therewithin. Wall 76 presents a continuous upper edge 80 and a corresponding lower edge 82 having diameters equal to grooves 40 and 62, respectively. Decorative indicia 84 are provided on the outer faces of panels 74.

Each panel 74 includes a main rectangular center portion 86 having a rectangular extension 88 at one end 89 thereof, there being a slot 90 communicating with the lower edge of extension 88 adjacent end 89. The opposite end 91 of center portion 86 is provided with a rectangular guide 92 having an elongated, vertical opening 94 formed therein adjacent end 91. Ends 89 and 91 are provided with a pair of notches 96 communicating with upper and lower edges 80 and 82, respectively.

To assemble cover 20, semicircular base sections 32 are placed in abutting relationship as shown in FIG. 12 with groove 40 facing upwardly. Panels 74 are formed in cylindrical wall 76 by interlocking the corresponding ends 89 and 91 as shown in FIGS. 4-6. In this regard, extension 88 is lapped over guide 92 and is inserted through opening 94 until slot 90 is in alignment with the latter, whereupon end 89 is lowered so that slot 90 embraces the lower portion of guide 92 and thereby effects interlocking of the panels. Opening 94 is vertically ofiset from extension 88 so that the panels will be aligned when connected. This operation is repeated at the other ends of panels 74 to form the cylindrical wall 76 as,

shown in FIG. 2.

Lower edge 82 of wall 76 is aligned with groove 40 and complementally received thereby to surround stand 22. It will be appreciated that wall 76 is aligned with base 28 so that notches 96 in lower edge 82 overlie corresponding gussets 42 so that the latter are cleared when wall 76 is placed into position.

A circular opening 98 is formed in top 50 by punching out a portion thereof along one of the perforation circles 72. The diameter of opening 98 is chosen to be substantially equal to that of trunk 26 of tree 24. Each semicir cular section 52 of top 50 is then placed into position on wall 76 with top edge 80 thereof complementally receiving top groove 62 to enclose stand 22 within cavity 78. It will be recognized that gussets 64 are aligned with notches 96 of edge 80 so that top 50 will be properly positioned on wall 76. Wall 76 maintains semicircular sections 32 and 52 in their abutting positions. Any suitable decoration may be provided on wall 76, it being noted that the illustrated embodiment shows zigzag indicia 84 cooperating with outer strips 36 and 58 to simulate an ordinary drum. The end product is thus an attractive unit which effectively covers tree stand 26.

Cover 20 is preferably fabricated of cardboard and, because of the arch configuration of strips 36, 38, 58 and 60 and the provision of gussets 42 and 64, the'unit is sturdy in construction whereby it may be used for numerous Christmas seasons. Panels 74 are desirably formed from initially planar, flexible sheets of cardboard which are formed into the semicircular, cylindrical configuration when constructing cover 20. Therefore, when disassembled, cover 20 is comprised of relatively flat components which facilitate packaging, mailing and storing of the unit. Furthermore, semicircular sections 32 and 52 are identical to their corresponding abutting sections and panels 74 are identical to each other with complemental latching components at the opposed ends thereof, to the end that the manufacture of cover 20 requires fabrication of only three basic elements.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible cover for a Christmas tree mounting stand, said cover comprising:

a base having a peripheral edge portion;

a pair of closely spaced, parallel, upstanding strips secured to said base edge portion and coextensive therewith;

a top having a peripheral edge portion;

a pair of closely spaced, parallel, depending strips secured to said top edge portion and coextensive therewith; and

a pair of side panels having means at the opposed ends thereof for interlocking the panels to present a continuous outer wall defining a stand-receiving cavity therewithin,

said wall presenting upper and lower continuous edges,

said upstanding and depending strips defining corresponding grooves configured for alignment with respective wall edges,

said :base being open in the center thereof for placement around the tree stand, said lower edge of the wall being complementally received by the base groove to surround the stand,

said top being adapted to overlie the stand and receive the trunk of a mounted tree therethrough, the upper wall edge complementally receiving the top groove to enclose the stand in said cavity.

2. The invention of claim 1, there being transverse gussets mounted on the base and top between corresponding strips, said panels having notches formed therein adjacent the edges for clearing the gussets.

3. The invention of claim 1, said base comprising an annular ring member, said wall being cylindrical and said top being circular.

4. The invention of claim 3, said side panels being of flexible, initially planar sheets of material.

5. The invention of claim 3, said base and top being formed in semicircular halves and maintained in abutting position by said wall.

6. The invention of claim 1, said panels being identical in configuration, the interlocking means comprising complemental latching components on the respective opposed ends of each panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 343,866 6/1886 Taylor 229-21 536,545 3/1895 Schmidt 229-21 585,386 6/1897 Howe 229-21 X 702,776 6/ 1902 Clement 229- 1,725,853 -l1/ 1929 Dreux 229-55 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE COVER FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE MOUNTING STAND, SAID COVER COMPRISING: A BASE HAVING A PERIPHERAL EDGE PORTION; A PAIR OF CLOSELY SPACED, PARALLEL, UPSTANDING STRIPS SECURED TO SAID BASE EDGE PORTION AND COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH; A TOP HAVING A PERIPHERAL EDGE PORTION; A PAIR OF CLOSELY SPACED, PARALLEL, DEPENDING STRIPS SECURED TO SAID TOP EDGE PORTION AND COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH; AND A PAIR OF SAID PANELS HAVING MEANS AT THE OPPOSED ENDS THEREOF FOR INTERLOCKING THE PANELS TO PRESENT A CONTINUOUS OUT WALL DEFINING A STAND-RECEIVING COVITY THEREWITH, SAID WALL PRESENTING UPPER AND LOWER CONTINUOUS EDGES, SAID UPSTANDING AND DEPENDING STRIPS DEFINING CORRESPONDING GROOVES CONFIGURED FOR ALIGNMENT WITH RESPECTIVE WALL EDGES, SAID BASE BEING OPEN IN THE CENTER THEREOF THE PLACEMENT AROUND THE TREE STAND, SAID LOWER EDGE OF THE WALL BEING COMPLEMENTALLY RECEIVED BY THE BASE GROOVE TO SURROUND THE STAND, SAID TOP BEING ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE STAND AND RECEIVE THE TRUNK OF A MOUNTED TREE THERETHROUGH, THE UPPER WALL EDGE COMPLEMENTALLY RECEIVING THE TOP GROOVE TO ENCLOSE THE STAND IN SAID CAVITY. 